Tonal 2 home gym review: a smarter, quieter, more complete strength system

I’ve lifted over a million pounds using Tonal, across both the original and now the new Tonal 2, and in that time, it’s proven to be the most effective and consistent way I’ve ever built strength at home.

Just to be clear, I purchased both of my Tonal units with my own money. As with every review on Trail & Kale, this article reflects my genuine experience and opinions, with no input or influence from Tonal.

What makes Tonal so impressive isn’t just the hardware or the design; it’s how it removes every ounce of friction between wanting to train and actually doing so.

There are no plates to swap, no racks to reconfigure, no noise, no wasted time. You walk up, tap your workout, and lift, all within minutes.

Tonal 2 takes that formula and sharpens it. Now featuring a heavier peak digital resistance, smoother motors, a built-in form-tracking camera, and new cardio-strength Aero HIIT workouts, turning one wall of your house into a full-service strength studio.

Key specifications

• Price: $4,295 at tonal.com + $59.95/month membership (12-month minimum). You only need 1 membership for your entire household.
• Resistance: Up to 250lb total (125 lb per arm). That’s more than I will ever need.
• Dimensions: 50.9” H × 21.5” W × 5.25” D (wall-mounted)
• Display: 24” interactive touchscreen
• Smart View camera: Real-time form feedback and video replay
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth, always-online
• Membership: Unlocks AI modes, guided workouts, metrics, and updates
• Included accessories: Smart handles, bar, rope; optional bench and mat
• Installation: Professional only which costs $295 to $550 depending on location. It cost $295 for me.

The accessories are all build to the highest standard and feel premium, as you would expect.

The handles and the bar both use batteries and have buttons that allow you to turn the weight on and off at the tap of a button, so cool!

Design and setup

Tonal 2 looks more like a high-end mirror or piece of art, than a gym.

When it’s off, it blends into the room; when it’s on, it transforms the wall into a training station.

The installation is the only real barrier, it must be mounted to a load-bearing wall with proper stud spacing, so renters or frequent movers may find that tricky.

Professional setup is mandatory and worth it; the techs calibrate everything precisely to avoid cable snags.

I originally intended to have it installed in my bedroom but in the end opted to place it in my garage instead, which I’m very happy with.

Once installed, Tonal needs just 7×7 ft of floor space. Add a mat and a small bench, and you’ve got a gym that’s quieter, cleaner, and more compact than anything else offering comparable resistance or range of motion.

Features that set Tonal 2 apart

I’ve always believed that money spent on your health and fitness is one of the best investments you can make.

When you prioritize your health, everything else in life tends to fall into place; happiness, energy, and even success.

I like to do my homework before buying any piece of fitness equipment, and no matter how many alternatives I looked at, I kept coming back to Tonal.

It consistently stood out for its design, technology, and the way it makes strength training genuinely enjoyable and somewhat gamified.

Here are some of the key features that set Tonal apart from the competition and ultimately convinced me to buy a Tonal, again… :

• Instant digital resistance: Adaptive motors change weight mid-rep with zero lag.
• 250lb total load: Enough for nearly all strength and hypertrophy training.
• Smart weight: When you first use Tonal, you do some test exercises as a way for Tonal to get to know you and how much you can safely lift, from their it sets your starting weights automatically for all moves, and then as you get stronger, it adds weight for you based on your individual progress.
• Smart View camera: Tracks form and posture with AI-based cues (“square your hips”), helping improve movement patterns safely.
• Aero HIIT workouts: Exclusive cardio-strength sessions that replace separate machines and deliver full-body conditioning.
• The trainers are all really enjoyable to follow; Tony Horton is my favorite however.
• Dynamic resistance modes: Spotter, Eccentric, Chains, and Burnout simulate advanced gym training techniques.
• Family Mode: Unlimited user profiles for household training on one membership; my wife uses it too.
• Upgraded sound and connectivity: Quieter, faster, more stable making it ideal for shared living spaces.

The cables on the new Tonal 2 are more durable and capable of handling 250lbs of weight.

They also operate much quieter than the original Tonal that used to own, not that it was particularly loud anyway!

Performance review

With more than a million pounds lifted across Tonal workouts, I can confidently say Tonal 2 delivers the most realistic and responsive digital resistance available in a home gym.

The upgraded motors provide buttery-smooth motion with no lag, and no hesitation which makes fast circuits and drop sets feel very natural.

It genuinely feels like working with premium cable stacks at a commercial gym.

The difference shows most during Eccentric mode, where you can add up to 50% more load on the lowering phase; it’s brutally effective for strength gains and not something you can replicate with standard cable systems.

The Spotter feature automatically lightens the load if it detects fatigue. It’s reliable 99% of the time, but occasional false triggers can happen if you don’t set the delay time long enough.

I have set my spotter delay to 5 seconds, so if I can reach the ‘weight off’ button on the accessory I am using, or my Apple Watch, and things get too much, I can hold the weight steady for 5 seconds and Tonal turns the weight off for me. For solo lifters really pushing their limits, it’s an essential safety net.

If you’re in the ‘ok… I get it now’ phase, here’s the simplest next step: check current Tonal 2 pricing + delivery/install options.

The Smart View camera is a nice upgrade too.

It quietly watches your form, identifies imbalances, and saves video replays so you can self-correct on the fly or during your next set.

It’s an excellent substitute for a personal trainer, and as someone who values precision and form, this is an important new feature.

Aero HIIT adds a welcome dose of cardio-strength fusion to Tonal. You can learn more about all the different workouts, including Aero HIIT, here.

It mimics rowing-style or ski-erg movements using the same arms, giving you a sweat-heavy session without another machine cluttering your space.

What really sets Tonal apart most is the effortless workflow and the smart way in which you can adjust the arms to match the current move you are doing.

Markers appear on the side of the screen when you begin adjusting them with arrows telling you where to place it, so that it matches how the trainer on the screen has set his/hers. It’s all incredibly intuitive and sturdy to move and rotate the arms.

The system automatically loads your next exercise, adjusts resistance, counts reps, and tracks your progress in the background.

The workout intro screen also tells you which muscle groups you’ll be working, along with the accessories you’ll need for the workout.

You’re always focused on movement, not setup.

Finally, Tonal’s training ecosystem continues to expand with over 200 guided programs now including strength, HIIT, Pilates, and Aero workouts, with excellent coaching that feels instructional rather than performative.

Who it’s best for

Tonal 2 is ideal for:

• Busy professionals who want a time-efficient, guided workout at home
• Families who share one system but want separate progress tracking
• Beginner to intermediate lifters seeking safe, structured strength development
• Experienced athletes focused on form, efficiency, and data
• Anyone tight on space who wants full-gym capability in one wall unit

It’s less suitable for renters who move frequently or heavy lifters chasing max loads beyond 250lb.

Cost and value

At nearly $5,000 plus a $59.95/month subscription, Tonal 2 isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the few fitness products where the math works out.

A single year of personal training or a mid-tier gym membership can easily exceed that.

Tonal replaces both, offering a permanent, evolving platform that adapts as you do. Add in the saved commute time and year-round access, and it starts to feel less like a splurge and more like an investment in consistency.

For me, it’s been exactly that, a system that made strength training a seamless part of daily life rather than another chore.

Comparison: Tonal 1 vs Tonal 2

Tonal 2 is more of a refinement rather than a completely new system. Here are a few of the updates:

• Resistance: 250 lb vs. 200 lb
• Motors: Smoother and faster, ideal for drop sets and HIIT
• Arms: Wider rotation for better ergonomics
• Camera: New Smart View adds form tracking and feedback
• Workouts: Aero HIIT exclusive to Tonal 2
• Noise and connectivity: Noticeably improved
• Software: Mostly shared, with faster loading on Tonal 2

If your Gen 1 still performs well (and can be picked up at a significant discount right now), the upgrade isn’t essential but for new buyers, the Tonal 2 experience is clearly the more complete, polished package.

My verdict

After more than a million pounds lifted with Tonal, I can say this confidently: Tonal 2 is the best at-home strength training experience available today.

It delivers performance, convenience, and longevity that justify the cost, especially if you’re serious about training consistently.

It’s simply the smartest, quietest, and most sustainable way to build strength without ever leaving home.

Tonal 2 turns strength training into a daily ritual, it’s efficient, intelligent, and rewarding. Once it’s on your wall, you’ll stop making excuses and start making progress.

If you have any questions at all (there’s almost too much to cover in this review), reach out to my on our Instagram account, and I’m happy to answer any of your questions; this machine is one of the most revolutionary products in recent years.

FAQs